Comparative analysis of serum proteomes of patients with cardiovascular disease

Objectives: To monitor increases or decreases in cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related proteins that will be released from the deposits or plaque on the inner wall of blood vessels. Design and methods: Protein profiles of sera from healthy subjects and CVD patients were determined via 2-DE. Differentially expressed spots in CVD patients were identified by ESI-Q-TOF MS/MS. Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), ceruloplasmin, and hemopexin were confirmed by Western blotting and RBP4 was further verified by ELISA. Results: Approximately, 400 spots were detected in each gel via comparisons of the serum proteome. Among these spots, 19 spots were selected and identified by ESI-Q-TOF MS/MS (P<0.05). The expression levels of RBP4 and ceruloplasmin were higher in CVD patients by Western blotting. The level of immunoreactive RBP4 in CVD patients was higher than that in healthy subjects. Conclusions: The three proteins identified in the present study may constitute potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of CVD in patients. (C) 2010 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.